Advent-ageous Packaging Design
Throughout the year, there are significant days when retailers aim to boost their profits. Valentine’s Day has recently passed, Easter is on its way and the final few weeks of the year are dominated by Christmas. On these occasions, packaging design is crucial for transforming items like chocolate, biscuits, toiletries and beer, into the ideal gift.
The challenge with gift boxes is to deliver packaging designs that look impressive, yet doesn’t generate excessive packaging waste. We know that consumers are searching for sustainable packaging, so it’s advantageous to select solutions that are widely recycled and plastic free.
Cardboard Gift Packaging
Cardboard is the ideal material for gift boxes. When ordered from an FSC® certified packaging company, they will be made from a blend of recycled and sustainably sourced fibres. What’s more, cardboard is versatile; it can be cut and folded into a myriad of shapes. And, it can be finished with a simple single-colour graphic illustration or a full-colour print.
If you want to see some great examples of what is possible, check out a current exhibition at the Museum of Brands in London. Here, 19 winning designs from the 2022 Pro Carton European Carton Excellence Award are featured. The Museum is also hosting packaging talks including one by the Pro Carton team on 28 March. You can expect this to focus on promoting the circular economy in packaging design.
“To showcase the flexibility and versatility of cartonboard packaging alongside a legacy of global brands is an honour.”
– Winfried Muehling, Pro Carton
One of the winning designs, which caught our eye, is a cleverly engineered cardboard sphere. Designed by DUCAJU for Le Maison du Chocolat, it is a printed, hanging advent calendar. What an original concept! Firstly, it makes a statement gift and secondly, it is a 100% cardboard creation; free from plastic inserts. We believe that this is how all advent calendars should be designed.
Advent Calendars: A world of Possibilities
Once a festive picture was the reward for opening the doors of an advent calendar to mark the countdown to Christmas. The, in the 1970s, Cadbury started selling chocolate varieties, a concept that had really taken off by the 1990s. Now, there are luxury truffles, hot chocolate, dairy-free and liqueur chocs to select from!
If you are gifting to someone without a sweet tooth, it isn’t a problem. You can find advent calendars filled with beauty samples, gin miniatures, tea selections, stationery items and small toys. For brands, this offers a great way to introduce new product ranges and may tempt buyers to make a purchase! To encourage this, you might include a 10% discount code behind one of the doors.
Whilst some advent calendars can be purchased for a few pounds, others cost hundreds. Are you wondering whether there’s potential to package your goods in this way?
Why Consider Advent Calendars in February?
You might be wondering why we are talking advent calendars in February. The reality is that we started discussing designs and orders for 2023 advent calendars when people were counting down to Christmas 2022. As a prime selling opportunity, our customers have to be ahead of the game.
When you know what treats will be going behind the doors, we can begin discussions on the size of the openings, the depth of the box and the shape of the advent calendar. Some of our customers want the full 1-24 December countdown, while others prefer a 12 Days of Christmas option.
Your calendar inserts can all be formed from cardboard too. That’s because, this material is sufficiently robust to offer protection to the goods inside during transport and display. What’s more, we can print the main box and insert with your festive design. For luxury advent calendars, you might consider spot varnishing, foil blocking or embossing as other finish options.
When all the doors are open and the contents devoured, the whole box can be placed in the recycling bin. As a widely recycled material, the cardboard fibres will be used to make the next batch of boxes. Therefore, it is a sustainable packaging option.
Get in touch on 01296 436888 or enquiries@abcbox.co.uk to discuss your gift packaging design ideas; our advice can be advent-ageous!
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